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Opening of the International Year of Astronomy in 2009 (IYA2009) in Berlin

The General Assembly of the United Nations declared 2009 to be the "International Year of Astronomy", in commemoration of Galileo Galilei, who for the first time pointed a telescope at the sky 400 years ago. Nowadays, Astronomy has developed in an all-embracing science which is anchored deeply in the cultural heritage of mankind. Astrophysical discoveries revolutionise our world view and understanding of the universe to this day.

International activities to come with the Year of Astronomy are to be found on the dedicated homepage under www.astronomy2009.org . Also in Germany partners from science, education and culture will offer a wide spectrum of events like exhibitions, talks and public sky observations. Scientific facilities, planetaria and public observatories invite the public to be astonished with the look to the sky like Galilei was 400 years ago. These activities and further background information for download are to be found in the Internet under www.astronomie2009.de .

The ceremonious prelude and the opening of the year of the astronomy in Germany took place on the 20th of January, 2009 in the museum for communication Berlin (see www.astronomie2009.de/news/der-blick-zum-himmel-astronomiejahr-in-deutschland-eroeffnet ).

Each quarter of 2009 highlights a special motto:

• From 2th to 5th of April, 2009 the worldwide program "100 hours of astronomy" will be a sort of observation marathon round-the-clock, all around the globe, on site and multimedia. Hundreds of facilities in the whole of Germany will open their door by a "long night of the stars" and take part in the biggest "stars party" of all times.
• Linking astronomy with historical and cultural events of the day stands in the centre of attention of the second quarter of the year till June. Concerts, exhibitions and other cultural events are offered at different places in the whole of Germany.
• "World Views of Astronomy" in third quarter of 2009 stretches the curve of history from ancient times up to modern cosmology.
• The fourth quarter of 2009 highlights the subject "Astronomy and School" and is particularly directed at the youngest.

In Heidelberg, astronomical research takes place in the Centre for Astronomy of the University of Heidelberg ( www.zah.uni-heidelberg.de) and the Max-Planck Institutes for Astronomy and Nuclear Physics.

A number of activities are planed to accompany the International Year of Astronomy. Currently, a series of talks within the ³Studium Generale² highlight "Galileis first gaze through a telescope and it¹s impact nowadays" (see www.zah.uni-heidelberg.de/studium_generale.php.de).

In November 2009, the Heidelberg University Library will exhibit "Heaven in books. Astronomical Literature and Instruments of Six Centuries" (see www.ub.uni-heidelberg.de/news/ausstellung.html).